I'm not Clare, I'm 'orrid! even I don't speak to me!!

Sorry I'm not trying to stir up a debate here, I haven't caught the previous ones (this forum is waaaaaay too busy for me to keep on top of!) but can someone tell me whether GDBA use, or have used poodles? It would just seem a natural choice to me, as in my opinion the standard poodle has all the qualities the labradoodle is supposed to have. Are they too reactive or is just the stigma of poodle prejudice?

Jo

I've not heard of them using Poodles Jo but they have tried a number of suitable sized breeds over the years so I would not be surprised to find that they have been used. I'm sure some would pass but the thing is, once you have found the breeds with the lowest failure rate it makes sense to go with these breeds. It would give you the quickest turn around in trained dogs at the lowest unit price. I know that lowest unit price does not sound very nice when talking about a living creature but in a case like this it has to be born in mind.

Regards, John

Thanks for your reply John.
It's odd because I know that there are a few poodle assistance dogs, and you'd have thought the temperament needed would be the same for both jobs? Or perhaps an assistance dog learns more commands so it's more suitable for a dog that's easily bored?

I know what you mean about unit cost, GDBA is a charity and can't afford not to consider the costs of their work.
It also makes sense for the welfare of the dogs not to breed and train animals that may or may not be suitable. If they aren't, then they have to find homes and with so many dogs already waiting for homes to come along, I'm glad they don't just breed willy-nilly, whatever their main reason for it is.

Jo

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GDBA have currently got 2 black standard poodles on the puppy walking scheme. They are only about 12 / 14 weeks old now - but seem to be doing well.
As John said, it makes sense to use breeds we know will have a good chance of being successful, but also there may be other breeds out there that may be equally as good so that's why they are being tried. A lot of research has gone into looking at different breeds & it was decided that a poodle should be tried as they may well be ideal. GDBA will also be trying some other breeds in the near future.
Have also got a young chesepeke bay currently being puppy walked & 2 Border Collies, which haven't been used for a while.  :)

whoops - sorry posted twice & not sure how to delete one.

edit to say - have kind of deleted one.

I hope my comment on GBFB was not taken as a general one, I was critical of one very specific thing and I'm not pretending to have the perfect answer either. I certainly was'nt suggesting they trawl the internet and take individual action against people making false claims about their breeding program, I just felt that since labradoodles seem owe their existence to the search for guide dogs then GDFB might at least post some discaimer somewhere, that's all.

snoopy1, one question you might know, the two poodles you know of now, there have been some in the past, they would have been tried before any labradoodle was tried anyway?

Is GDFB world wide and are there other completely seperate guide dog programs around the world?

Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is only in this country. (also with a small centre in Belfast)
But there are lots of similar organisations all over the world. GDBA have close connections with some of the other organisations. Sharing expertise in both breeding & training. I know we are one of the biggest ones & definately breed more dogs than any of the others.
Poodles - yes they have been used before, but a long time ago, as for the success? I'd have to look that up.
I do know that some of the labradoodles were successful Guide Dogs.

It is worth noting that the labradoodles were used many years ago & the breeding programme (& training too) has moved on since then.

:)

One of the poodles may be on the Guide dog stand at crufts next year.  :)
& to demonstrate some of the other breeds we use, there will definately be a leonberger & a FCR there. :)

Snoopy on Breed all about it, I saw boxers being used as guide dogs.  Can almost any dog be used to aid in some way? Hearing dogs, guide dogs etc.  

There are (or were) several dalmatians used as Guide Dogs in New Zealand. One of them, Ch Brough of Farley Green, trained and qualified as a guide dog at the age of 12 years, following his retirement from showing, when his owner became blind.

Hi Emma, yes within reason. Obviously size is an important factor for Guide Dog work, boxers have been used - many years ago, also bullmastiffs & dobermans & loads of others, but the lab & GR's and a cross between the two has proved to be a very good dog to use, & with the breeding programme that is in place, it means we can breed more of what is successful & hopefully produce more good quality stock.
However, we have discovered that there may be other suitable breeds out there & this is why we are trying some (on a very small scale)

Hearing dogs - they use a lot of donated dogs & although I'm no expert on Hearing dogs, I would imagine they could use lots of different types of dog, a healthy dog who is willing to please & eager to learn with a good temperament would be a great start & there are lots of dogs that would fit that criteria.

Dogs for the Disabled, which was set up on the premises of the GDBA breeding Centre a few years ago, (but has since grown & moved on to bigger & better things) use a lot of GDBA rejects, a GD trainee may not be suitable for GD work but potentially could be a good DFD. One dog that springs to mind, didn't make it as a GD & was just not interested in working. Was assessed by DFD & immediately tuned into that type of work & was like a different dog, loved his training & is now a very good DFD helping a disabled person.

:) Edit to add. just seen JG's post & yes dalmations were also used in this country years ago, we have a huge black & white framed photo at the Breeding Centre with lots of different breeds (including a dalmation) all in harness.

Hi bit ot but just wondering if any heard of Barry/Brian Stocks? I met him here a few yrs back, he`d come over from the UK GDBA to help the Spanish equivalant when they were starting out. Think he was something to do with the breeding side of things.

Christine, Spain.